MONTGOMERY, Alabama - A Selma legislator is seeking to gradually raise the minimum wage in Alabama to $9.80 an hour, arguing the current federal minimum keeps people stuck in poverty and dependent upon government safety net programs.

Alabama does not have a minimum wage beyond the federal requirement of $7.25 an hour. Rep. Darrio Melton, D-Selma, said that is not enough to keep up with the increase in the cost of living, even in a comparatively low cost state like Alabama.

"It's not a living wage," Melton said.

Melton will propose a constitutional amendment in the upcoming session seeking to gradually raise the minimum wage over three years until it hits $9.80 in 2016.

But while wage increase proposals have prompted serious debate in some states, Melton acknowledges his bill is most assuredly D.O.A. in the GOP-controlled Alabama Legislature. A business group has expressed opposition to his idea, labeling it a job killer.

Melton, who called it a moral issue, said such a low minimum wage can actually discourage people from seeking work because they can't afford child care or transportation at that pay. And he said he has heard of employers encouraging their minimum wage workers to seek out safety net programs like food stamps and Medicaid.

"At the end of the day, everyone needs a roof, three square meals and health care," Melton said. "By paying employees poverty-level wages and giving them instructions to sign up for Medicaid and food stamps, they'Âre just allowing taxpayers to subsidize their bottom line. We can pay our employees well enough to help them provide for themselves or we can offer them assistance in the form of charity and social programs."

A full-time worker making minimum wage makes about $15,080 a year. The 2013 federal poverty threshold for a family of two is $15,510.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have minimum wages above the federal level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The $9.80 is higher than any current state minimum wage, although several states are seeing pushes for more.

The state of
Washington currently has the highest state minimum wage at $9.32 an hour. Oregon has
the second highest at $9.10.

California politicians approved a two phase increase in that state's $9 minimum wage. It will go to $9 in the summer, and to $10 at the start of 2016.

The federal minimum, which was last raised in 2009 under President George W. Bush, prevails in 29 states.

Raising the minimum wage will help Alabama, Melton contended, by pouring more money into the economy.

"If more money is being put in people's pockets, they'll have more money to spend at these small businesses," Melton said.

Rosemary Elebash, the Alabama director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said a minimum wage hike would shrink Alabama's economy, not grow it.

"Business owners say, 'I can't afford it,'" Elebash said.

Elebash said when the minimum wage jumps, business owners also have to raise the pay of other employees in order to retain them.

Businesses are already struggling she said, and a raise in minimum wage will be another obstacle to hiring.

Elebash said minimum wage is supposed to be entry level pay and workers earn more as they move up the ladder.

The head of an Alabama labor group has endorsed Melton's idea.

"Prices and CEO pay keep going up and workers' salaries remain stagnant," said Al Henley, president of the Alabama AFl-CIO.

Melton said conservative lawmakers: can't "have it both ways." He said many conservatives condemn safety net programs, but also fight minimum wage increases.

"It'll never see daylight in committee, but we need to start the conversation," Melton said of his bill.